Imperial Glass Corporation

Imperial Glass Company was organized in 1901 they started producing glass in January 1904. In the beginning, production ranged from utilitarian glassware to electric and gas lampshades. Then over the next twenty years the company started making pressed glass patterns, Stretch Glass, Carnival, Free Hand Depression and Elegant patterns, Milk Glass, and many other patterns and designs. Two of Imperials best-known designs originated in the 1930s. The first was Cape Cod in 1931, followed by Candlewick in 1936. These two pattern lines proved to be very popular with buyers for nearly fifty years. In fact, Candlewick became one of the companys biggest success stories. Today Candlewick is the line most people readily equate with the Imperial Glass Corporation.

In 1958, the A. H. Heisey Company of Newark Ohio went out of business and Imperial Glass bought their molds and equipment.

'In the early 1960's Imperial's new Slag Glass items quickly became an industry standard for their beauty and quality. These were joined by Peachblow vases. A revival of some of Imperial's original patterns appeared. Called 'New Carnival' and 'Collectors Crystal', these items were produced from the moulds of some of the old NUCUT and Iridescent ware so popular some fifty years earlier. New colors appeared and were joined by an expanded offering of decorated items, keeping Imperial's Decorating Department working at full capacity.'(1)

Imperial was sold to Lenox Inc, of New Jersey in December 1972. In 1981 the company was sold to Arthur Lorch. Sold again in 1982, but the handwriting was on the wall. Imperial Glass closed their doors April 11, 1985. After 85 years, one of the oldest surviving glasshouses was no more!